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| My Granddaddy Lonnie |
This morning I went through the motions of rolling out of bed, showering and standing in the closet for 10 minutes to find something to wear. I finally grabbed a skirt and sweater that was still wrapped in the plastic from the dry cleaners because it meant no ironing to do! I took my boots out of the shoebox and they clearly needed a shining. I grabbed the shining kit and proceeded to put a thin layer of black polish all over each boot in an even circular motion. I stopped mid-stroke and I felt the familiar half-smile created by one of those joyful memories that nostalgia often brings. My half-smile quickly dissipated into two big tears which seemed to fall in slow motion to their chosen place on my lap. My grandaddy taught me to shine shoes when I was about 8 years old during his Saturday night ritual to ensure that when the doors of the church opened on Sunday morning, his call and response to push the pastor along would be matched by a laundered suit, a crip white shirt, a big knot in his tie and those shiny shoes!
Those two tears that found their way onto my lap were laced in sadness because my son and daughter will never know Granddaddy like I know Granddaddy. The tears also represented thankfulness for my parents, my brother and my sister, who often have "Granddaddy" moments and stories that preserve his memory so well! I wish I had had my Canon about 15 years earlier because now that I am in the business of preserving memories for others, it has become clearer to me just how important memories are.
I am observing another day of Thanksgiving on this Thursday. I am thankful for:
- the memories of love and lessons from my past
- the memories that my family and friends are creating daily
- the opportunity and growing ability to capture memories for others
- and for shined boots!
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| These Boots Were Made For Walking! |
Sapphie, don't do that!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday! I was just talking about my granny today and how much she has taught me so much about life.
ReplyDelete@Michele Our grandparents had so much influence on the women we are today. If I must say so myself, I think they would be proud!
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of my “issues”, you have reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for. Like you, I too have memories of my grandparents. The lessons I’ve learned from them has made me the person I am today....for that…I am Thankful.
ReplyDeleteWow Tanya! It was just what I needed to read! Loved it! I am having such a great Thursday. Not only was this post of giving thanks, but that memory of your grandfather, I have of my grandfather. I always think of the fact that my daughters will never truly know him too, like I did, but I am blessed. He was an awesome influence in my life and his legacy will live on in our hearts for ever. I too shared the same feelings about my canon. I wished I had my canon in 2009. I had to say goodbye to him and I have wished to have taken a million more pictures of him to preserve eternally.
ReplyDelete:)It's like you were writing what I felt in a way!!